Forest certification helps ensure sustainable forestry practices by assessing them independently. In Slovakia, forest owners understand and value certification, seeing it as a way to show environmental responsibility and improve forest management. Certified owners benefit from better forest practices and image, while facing challenges with compliance and administrative tasks. PEFC users focus on non-economic benefits, while FSC-certified owners see economic gains like market access and higher sales. However, price premiums for certified timber are minimal. A national certification system may better align with forest policy goals.